Strange PSA on PBS -- Foundation for a Better Life?

[Bleacher Creature]

I was watching TV with my son yesterday afternoon and saw an ad for an organization called the Foundation for a Better Life. It looked sort of creepy -- i.e., in a secretly religious way. Does anyone know anything about them?? With the crew running the Corporation for Public Broadcasting nowadays, nothing would surprise me -- but I'm still a bit curious.

[Stephanie]

1. did you, I don't know, GOOGLE them?

[Bleacher Creature]

3. Uhh yeah. Nobody seems to know much about them.

And their website was just as cryptic.

[Ravenseye]

6. See my post below

I had seen the ads, but had no clue. I googled the foundation's name and found the man behind it within a couple minutes.

The website is definately cryptic, but when that doesn't provide you the inforamtion you want to know, look outside that site. Gotta love blogs and independent media on the interweb.

[BlueIris]

10. Just FYI, Google ain't what it used to be at the moment.

I have no idea if it's broken or hacked or FUBARed or what, but my search skills have always been excellent and lately it has been DAMN hard to track down the information I want.

[Ravenseye]

2. Colorado billionaire supporting nationwide propaganda campaign

"Philip Anschutz, who the BBC described as having "a reputation as one of the hungriest of US corporate vultures", is currently using his wealth and power to support a slick ad campaign appearing on 10,000 billboards, in hundreds of movie theaters, and on nearly a thousand TV stations across the country. The Foundation for a Better Life (FBL)—the non-profit entity that officially produces and distributes the ads—has no contact information on its website, forbetterlife.org, but a series of posts and comments to the portland indymedia open publishing newswire uncovered the connection between Anschutz and FBL:"

more at
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2002/03/710.shtml

[coffeenap]

4. Privately funded by conservative oil guy: link to Sourcewatch below

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_Foundation_For_a_Better_Life

[salvorhardin]

5. They're funded by Phil Anschutz

Co-founder of Qwest Communications.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Philip_F._Anschutz
http://www.dickstaub.com/links_view.php?record_id=4410

It looks like Foundation For A Better Life is wholely controlled by his family with 4 family members on the board of directors.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Foundation_for_a_Better_Life

Here's an Indymedia report about them
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2002/03/710.shtml

BTW: Sourcewatch (formerly Disinfopedia) is a great resource.

[Bleacher Creature]

7. Thanks

Both to you and Ravenseye!

[Cats Against Frist]

8. I would be suspicious, but not knee-jerk

It looks like, from their site, that they really are non-partisan, despite the fact that they have some ads that seem like they could be vaguely pro-war. They also have ads that are inspiring, and have Mother Teresa, Whoopi Goldberg and Christopher Reeve -- not exactly Republicans.

Instead of rushing to condemn them -- I would think that this is what we would WANT from Republicans -- it seems like a moderate message. It certainly beats Jesus on a trailer hitch and neocons (Though, Winston Churchill was on one of their billboards). I would, however, watch what they do, in the future, to make sure there's not a little "bait and switch" going on.

[JohnyCanuck]

9. Sounds like another example of Brainwashing America

Brainwashing America

by Dr. Norman Livergood

In an earlier article, I reviewed the varied aspects of personality profiling and simulation. While serving as Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department at the U.S. Army War College, 1993-1995, I conducted studies on profiling, psychological programming, and brainwashing. I explored and developed personality simulation systems, an advanced technology used in military war games, FBI profiling, political campaigning, and advertising. Part of my discovery was that:

* unenlightened human minds are combinations of infantile beliefs and emotional patterns

* these patterns can be simulated in profiling systems

* these profiling systems can be used to program and control people

Personality simulation systems are being used to create political campaigns that apply voter profiles to control their voting behavior. TV commercials and programs use personality simulation to profile viewers to control their purchasing and viewing behaviors. And sophisticated propaganda and brainwashing techniques are being used by the Bush junta to keep American citizens under control.

http://www.hermes-press.com/brainwash1.htm

Check out also what he has to say about the Ad Council and their "Campaign for Freedom" series of public service ads in the same article.